SSO conductor Schwarz breaks his leg while skiing
By David Brewster
December 11, 2007
Seattle Symphony conductor and music director Gerard Schwarz broke his left leg and ankle last Thursday in a skiing accident. He faces surgery later this week, the SSO reports, with full recovery expected. In fact, the athletic Schwarz was conducting a recording session this morning, seated. He returned from the slopes Friday, thinking it was just a strain, but discovered the breaks at the doctor. He's now mastering a new art--crutches.
Schwarz has been told he'll have to stay off the left leg for eight weeks after surgery, but he'll keep a full conducting schedule, with aid of a seat while waving the baton. He'll be on stage for his next scheduled programs at Benaroya, the annual New Year's performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Meanwhile, well-wishers might want to suspend use of the familiar encouraging phrase among musicians, "Break a leg!"